Mitten



(No Model.)

F. J. KAHN. MITTEN.

No. 480,852. Patented Aug. 16, 1892. I

THE. mam: PETEFG :0,, PuuTo-umo wnnmaran n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND J. KAHN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO CLARENCE KAHN, OFSIOUX CITY, IOIVA.

MITTEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,852, dated August16, 1892.

Application filedMay 20, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND J. KAHN, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mittens; andIdodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap-IO pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements I 5 in mittens; and the objectis to provide amitten that allows the wearer to have a free use of thefingers when desired without removing the mitten from the hand.

My invention is intended to provide a mitten by which the free use ofthe fingers may be procured and that can readily be used bymail-carriers, conductors on railways, and any other persons whosebusiness it is to sort letters, make change, or do any other work in 2 5cold weather where frequent use of the fingers is necessary.

I am aware that mittens have been invented whose object is similar tomine; but I am not aware that any has yet been provided which permitsthe free and unobstructed use of all the fingers and the thumb and inwhich the opening through which the hand is thrust can be efiected,maintained, and closed by means of springs of the construction hereinshown.

I do not care to limit myself to the precise arrangement of partshereinafter shown, as the construction may be changed without goingbeyond the spirit of my invention.

My invention therefore consists in the novel construction andarrangement of the parts and the combination thereof, as will behereinafterfully described, and specifically pointed out in theclaims. Ihave fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of mitten on left handwith the mitten opened and hand partly exposed. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview Serial No. 33,738. (No model.)

of mitten, showing upper fur portion closed. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewof mitten, showing springs and manner of fastening same. Fig.

4 is a plan view of portion of end spring. Fig. 5 is an end view of endspring. Fig. 6 is a plan View of one of the springs, with its connectiveparts shown, relative position of parts being shown by dotted lines.

Referring now to these illustrations,wherein like parts are designatedby similar letters of reference, A designates the thumb portion of themitten, which is enlarged on its front side,

as at a, so as to permit the thumb to be freely and quickly releasedtherefrom when desired.

0 designates an elongated opening on the thumb side of the mitten, so asto extend along the edge between the. front and back portions from theforward end of the mitten to a point near the wrist.

H designates the hand thrust through the opening 0, by which'a free useof the same is procured.

D D designate a wire spring, consisting of a steel wire bent in acircular form, to the ends of which are secured, by means of suitablepivots e e, two flat pieces of metal or other suitable material, as M M.These pieces M M are fastened together in a hinged joint at e, in suchmanner that the outer ends of M M are capable of an outward movement.

M M are attached by means of hinged joints at c e to side strips, as EE, in such a manner that strips E E may be forced far enough from eachother to permit the entire hand to be thrust between them. The endsprings D D, flat pieces M M, and side strips E E are so constructedthat when E E are pressed apart the tension of the springsD D, togetherwith a slight hit or pressure, forces them together. StripsEEmay beconstructed of fiat steel, whalebone, or othersuitable material. If madeof whalebone, the connection between E E and M M may be made by bindingthe two opposing ends together by means of any suitable cord or thread,as shown by the binding (1. One end of the cord used may first besecured in the covering X, with which the aperture is furnished, thenclosely and tightly wrapped about the opposing and over lapping ends ofE E and M M, and finally 10o secured by the other end of the cord to thecovering X.

P designates a wrist-flap fastened in any suitable manner, by which themitten may be made to fit and clasp the wrist.

X designates a covering of wool, fur, or other soft and warm materialsuitably fastened alongthe edges of the opening 0, to the material ofwhich the mitten is made, covering side pieces and springs, &c., andmaking the opening tight and warm when closed. The springs, side pieces,and facings are all suitably secured to the material of which the mittenis made.

The operation of my invention is as follows: By slightly pulling thethumb of the mitten with the opposite hand or by catching the 0, locatedon the body of the mitten, extending from the point of the index-fingeralong the side thereof to a point near the wrist, provided with springsD D, to the ends of which are attached by hinged joints 6 e thin platesM M, hinged at e and at their outer ends connected by hinged joints withside pieces E E at 6 e by means of which springs and side piecesaperture 0 may be opened,the free use of the entire hand procured, andthe aperture again closed, all as set forth.

2. A mitten with the thumb portion enlarged where it joins the body ofthe mitten, so as to permit the thumb to be freely removed, having anelongated opening on the side of the mitten, extendingfrom the point ofthe index-finger along the side thereof to a point near the wrist, saidopening being provided with end springs and side pieces by means ofwhich the aperture may be opened and closed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND J. KAHN. WVitnesses:

JOSEPH SoHRoLL, W. T. DEYO.

